30 Most Fascinating Places That Seem Stuck in Time

In today’s fast-paced world it’s easy to dream of stopping time to catch our breaths or, better yet, hopping in a time machine and journeying back to an era where life was a bit less hectic. While that technology doesn’t exist (yet), there are many places throughout the world (including several in the United States) that feel frozen in the past. 

From the Wild West feel of Tombstone, Arizona, to centuries-old villages in Asia, here are the most unique places that seem stuck in time.

30. Cape May, New Jersey

Year established: 1848

Population: 3,463

Best time of year to visit: September-October

Why you should visit Cape May: This charming seaside town located on the southern tip of New Jersey is home to over 600 gorgeous Victorian buildings (the second largest collection in the U.S. after San Francisco). These well-preserved beauties feature the finest gables, gingerbread trim and turrets, making you feel transported back to the 1800s. 

Though the beach may tempt you to come in the summer, the best time to visit Cape May is in the fall. You’ll find fewer crowds, a crisp breeze and loads of Halloween-themed events like ghost tours and murder mystery dinners. And some of those pretty houses must be haunted, right?

29. Oradour-Sur-Glane, France

Year established: 1793

Population: 2,516

Best time of year to visit: April-May

Why you should visit Oradour-Sur-Glane: Its history is not pleasant; in 1944, Nazis overtook this small French village, killed almost all of its residents and set fires everywhere — resulting in the worst civilian atrocity in France during World War II. 

After the war, France began to rebuild a new town but left the original intact as a memorial to the lives lost. From the silent, empty streets to seeing artifacts like clocks that were stopped at the times of the fires, visiting Oradour-Sur-Glane is both a memorable experience and a sobering reminder of the horrors of war.

28. Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Year established: 1844

Population: 4,104

Best time of year to visit: September-October

Why you should visit Chagrin Falls: While it’s located only about 30 minutes from Cleveland, this small Ohio town feels worlds — and years — away from any big city. Take a stroll down Main Street, and you’ll find antique buildings and old-timey stores like the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop, which was established in 1875 and sells 16 flavors of popcorn, homemade ice cream from an age-old recipe and other treats. 

The town’s namesake waterfall adds to the feeling that you’re in a living Norman Rockwell painting.

27. Aarhus, Denmark

Year established: Late Eighth Century

Population: 282,910

Best time of year to visit: June-August

Why you should visit Aarhus: Denmark’s second-largest city is home to Den Gamle By (Old Town), the world’s first open-air museum. Established in 1909, it’s a place to immerse yourself in the country’s living history. 

Wandering through this “working town,” you’ll find 75 buildings that replicate Danish life from the 1800s to the 1970s. Actors decked out in period costumes will happily tell you about their lives, and you can time-hop to a bakery from 1885, a bookstore from 1927, a TV shop from 1974 and more. 

26. Cooperstown, New York

Year established: 1786

Population: 1,853

Best time of year to visit: April-October

Why you should visit Cooperstown: While its main attraction may be the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown has plenty of old-world charm. Doubleday Field, known as the “birthplace of baseball,” maintains the same look and feel as when players threw the first pitch in 1920, while the neoclassical mansion Hyde Hall (built between 1917 and 1834) features nearly 50 rooms with the furnishings of yesteryear. 

On Main Street, you’ll find antique shops, restaurants and bookstores housed in buildings from the 1800s. You can even sleep in history at The Inn at Cooperstown, which dates back to 1874. Talk about a home run!

25. Tyneham, England

Year established: 1683

Population: 0

Best time of year to visit: April-June

Why you should visit Tyneham: This village looks almost exactly like it did in 1943, the year all 225 of its residents were asked to leave their homes so the area could be used for World War II military operations. The villagers never returned, but today you can tour buildings such as a church and schoolhouse that contain personal and recreated items. 

Restoration efforts have been ongoing through the years, and Tyneham remains a captivating snapshot of life in the early ’40s.

24. Mackinac Island, Michigan

Year established: 1837

Population: 1,072

Best time of year to visit: June-August

Why you should visit Mackinac Island: From the absence of cars (none are allowed here) to the enchanting aroma of old-fashioned fudge shops, this Lake Huron island looks like a living postcard from centuries past. Not much has changed here since the 1800s; the streets are still filled with horse-drawn carriages and original buildings, and walking down Main Street will make you feel like you’re in the Victorian era. 

One of the town’s most famous buildings, The Grand Hotel, dates back to 1887 and is still welcoming travelers.

23. Havana, Cuba

Year established: 1515

Population: 2.14 million

Best time of year to visit: January-February

Why you should visit Havana: Like other cities, Havana has undergone numerous changes over the years, yet its architecture and abundance of classic American cars can make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. Old Havana looks, well, old, but it’s nearly impossible to resist the charm of its cobblestoned streets and plazas. 

Equally alluring are the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Trinidad, which has terrific museums like the Museo Romantico and Cienfuegos, which is famous for pretty colonnade buildings from the 1800s, cathedrals and amazing views of the Bay of Cienfuegos. Plus, you can visit some great beaches — and that never gets old, right?

22. Solvang, California

Year established: 1911

Population: 5,804

Best time of year to visit: April-May 

Why you should visit Solvang: This charming California town feels more like Europe than the United States, thanks to a group of Danish immigrants who founded it. You’ll be enchanted by this Danish-influenced village as you see old Danish architecture, including a working windmill. 

The fascinating Elverhøj Museum of History & Art gives you a taste of Solvang’s Danish history, and as a bonus, the town is in Santa Barbara’s wine country — so you can have plenty of wine to go along with that fantastic Danish cheese. 

21. Hahoe Folk Village, South Korea

Year established: 14th-15th Century 

Population: 230

Best time of year to visit: April-May

Why you should visit Hahoe Folk Village: This riverside village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a working village that’s authentic, not staged. Take in the bucolic countryside, and admire the village’s Presbyterian Church, which has a spire made of brick; the many pavilions; and the charming thatched houses, cleverly arranged in the shape of a lotus flower. 

Or stroll along the river, and enjoy the enchanting Mansongjeong Pine Forest, where odds are good that you’ll feel centuries-old relaxation and spiritual nourishment.

20. St. Augustine, Florida

Year established: 1565

Population: 14,515

Best time of year to visit: November-April

Why you should visit St. Augustine: St. Augustine is commonly called the oldest city in the United States, though the technical explanation is more of a mouthful. It’s the “longest continually inhabited European-founded city in the U.S.” Regardless of what you call it, this lovely city is a big draw for beach lovers and history buffs. 

A visit to Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest (known) masonry fort in the U.S., takes you straight back to 1672. Other attractions include the fabulous Lightner Museum, which was built in 1888 and features stunning spaces and exhibits that transport you back to the Gilded Age, and the pedestrian-only St. George Street, which has a collection of shops, restaurants and historic buildings.

19. Mandu, India

Year established: Sixth Century 

Population: 10,223

Best time of year to visit: October-March 

Why you should visit Mandu: This preserved town sits atop a beautiful mountain range and features lavish temples, palaces and tombs surrounded by amazing scenery. The highlights include Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, which dates back to the 15th century and is said to have been a model for the Taj Mahal and the Jahaz Mahal, also known as the Ship Palace. 

Built between two person-made lakes, the majestic building looks like it’s actually floating. Mandu is less visited than other places in India, so you can walk through history and bump into fewer people while you do it.

18. Galena, Illinois

Year established: 1826

Population: 3,249

Best time of year to visit: May-October

Why you should visit Galena: This little gem, which is especially LGBTQ friendly and just three hours from Chicago, has a renowned historic district with over 800 well-preserved buildings from the 19th century. (Fun fact: an astounding 75 percent of the town is a National Historic district.)

Galena is also the former home of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States and Civil War General. You can tour the house he lived in, an Italianate-style brick house with original furnishings and artifacts dating back to 1865.

17. Bruges, Belgium

Year established: 1128

Population: 118,467

Best time of year to visit: June-August

Why you should visit Bruges: One of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, not to mention one of the most romantic, Bruges transports you back to the Middle Ages. You’ll appreciate how time stands still here as you stroll through cobblestone streets (or see the city via a horse and carriage ride) and check out the winding canals that have earned Bruges the title of “Venice of the North.” 

And since you’re in Belgium, there’s excellent beer, fries and chocolate, too!

16. Leavenworth, Washington

Year established: 1885

Population: 2,375

Best time of year to visit: April-May; November-December

Why you should visit Leavenworth: A Bavarian-style village in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth has amazing hiking, pretty views and colorful buildings that maintain the look of centuries passed. You’ll find year-round festivals and street fairs that celebrate the best of Bavaria, plus terrific bratwurst and other German delicacies at München Haus and Mozart’s Steakhouse. 

There’s also the Nutcracker Museum, which houses over 6,000 gems, some of which are centuries old. 

15. Aran Islands, Ireland

Year established: 1500 B.C.

Population: 1,250

Best time of year to visit: May-August

Why you should visit the Aran Islands: Away from Ireland’s mainland, but accessible via a ferry from Galway, this trio of islands went unspoiled for centuries. While they now receive more tourists than ever, you’ll still find a ruggedly beautiful landscape rooted in traditions (such as the residents choosing to speak Irish instead of English) and plenty of living history, like The Dun Aengus, a Celtic fortress over 2,000 years ago. However, this one might not be for the faint of heart since it hangs over a cliff 200 feet over the Atlantic Ocean!

There’s also a collection of eighth- and 11th-century ruins known as the “Seven Churches.”

14. Mineral Point, Wisconsin

Year established: 1836

Population: 2,625

Best time of year to visit: May-October 

Why you should visit Mineral Point: If you want to feel like you’re in a Cornish Village from the 1800s without actually going to England, Mineral Point is the place to be. Miners from Cornwall first came here in 1840 in search of the area’s abundance of lead. 

Today, the town center continues to look very much like that time period and maintains its influence from across the pond. You can feast on Cornish hen and other savory dishes, then work it off at the Pendarvis House, a National Historic Site featuring a collection of stone buildings and other attractions that walk you through Wisconsin’s history.

13. Mont Saint-Michel, France

Year established: 708

Population: 44

Best time of year to visit: June-August

Why you should visit Mont-Saint Michel: Largely unchanged since the eighth century, Mont Saint-Michel is like something out of a storybook — complete with an extraordinary high tide that just may trap you here. But there are far worse things than spending a night or two at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which sits over 256-feet tall and features narrow alleyways, shops and restaurants with medieval vibes. 

The highlight is a stunning Gothic-style abbey (Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel) that was built between the 11th and 16th centuries and features a breathtaking 360-degree view of the coast and countryside. 

12. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Year established: 1729

Population: 545,724

Best time of year to visit: April-June

Why you should visit Lancaster County: Home to over 50 Amish communities, the largest in the United States, Lancaster County (also known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country) is an area steeped in traditions. Visiting the area, you’ll get a firsthand glimpse of a life without cars (horses and buggies are the way to go here), electricity and, gasp, cell phones. 

You’ll also find gorgeous farms and workers churning butter. It’s also a great spot to shop furniture, as the Amish sellers are known for their craftsmanship and quality.

11. Inle Lake/Nyaung Shwe, Myanmar (Burma)

Year established: 1359

Population: 200,000

Best time of year to visit: October-May

Why you should visit Inle Lake: Peace and serenity are in the air in this remote Myanmar village, where communities live in stilt houses made of bamboo and wood, speak an ancient Burmese dialect and continue to use the lake for fishing and transport as they have done for generations. 

It’s a place that is still relatively unknown, but the trek here rewards visitors with a gorgeous lake, pretty floating gardens, ancient pagodas, local markets and an authentic glimpse at traditions preserved throughout time. 

10. Kizhi Island, Russia

Year established: 15th century

Population: Only a handful of few people live here

Best time of year to visit: June-August

Why you should visit Kizhi Island: Located in Russia’s Lake Onega, Kizhi Island was mostly abandoned in the 1950s and is now an open-air museum. The island’s main draw is Kizhi Pogost, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising two wooden churches and an octagonal bell tower, all dating back to the 1700s. 

The Transfiguration Church, with its 22 trademark Russian onion domes, is particularly beautiful. At 121 feet, it’s also one of the world’s tallest wooden structures. In the winter months, you can get here by snowmobile, dog sled or skis on the frozen lake, adding to the old-world feel. But we recommend waiting for the summer and taking the ferry!

9. Viscri, Romania

Year established: 12th Century

Population: 500

Best time of year to visit: August-September

Why you should visit Viscri: A UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Transylvania, this lovely town has been meticulously preserved to give visitors a glimpse into centuries-old rural life. You’ll see a blacksmith making a horseshoe and nails and villagers using horse carts, enjoy a ride to the pastures and have a dinner made with the freshest ingredients. 

The town’s main attraction is its white fortified church that was first built in the 12th century and details power shifts between original villagers and German colonists.

8. Tombstone, Arizona

Year established: 1879

Population: 1,209

Best time of year to visit: March-May

Why you should visit Tombstone: If you want to live out your dreams of being in the Wild West, this is the place to go. A once-booming mining town, Tombstone looks very much like it did during the heydays of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. 

Join the cowboys and cowgirls at the Crystal Palace Theater and Bird Cage Theater, which date back to the 1800s, and relive Tombstone’s epic shootouts and other legendary moments at the O.K. Corral Museum. Everything here is so well-kept that you might just feel like you’re on a film set for a Clint Eastwood or John Wayne movie.

7. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Year established: 1274

Population: 11,273

Best time of year to visit: May-September

Why you should visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Intentionally preserved, and one of a few German towns with city walls still intact, this picturesque place delivers a heavy dose of medieval charm. The famously beautiful Plonlein is a small square that features a yellow timber-frame house that's slightly crooked, a fountain and a view of the city walls. 

The town’s architecture and fairytale qualities inspired Disney’s “Pinocchio” and were used as filming locations for “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” 

6. Williamsburg, Virginia

Year established: 1632

Population: 14,957

Best time of year to visit: Spring and fall

Why you should visit Williamsburg: In Colonial Williamsburg, you’ll be transported back to the period of the American Revolution. Covering over 300 acres, the “largest museum in the world” features restored and replicated brick buildings, many of which you can explore to get a feel for life during the 1700s. 

You’ll see horse-drawn carriages, actors reenacting popular trades of the time, like blacksmithing and bindery, and men dressed in red coats and carrying muskets. Want to join in some of the activities? Be a juror at a mock trial, or test your skills with one of the lawn games. The whole thing may be a bit staged, but that’s part of the fun!

5. Angkor, Cambodia

Year established: Ninth Century

Population: 0 (but an estimated 700,000-900,000 people once lived here)

Best time of year to visit: November-April

Why you should visit Angkor: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this Cambodian treasure is hailed as one of Asia’s most important archeological sites and one of the world’s greatest cultural wonders. The Angkor Archeological Park is home to the breathtaking remains of the Khmer Empire and dates back to between the ninth and 15th centuries. 

The largest and most famous, of course, is Angkor Wat, which has over 1,000 buildings and is the world’s largest religious structure, stretching over 400 acres.

4. Pripyat, Ukraine

Year established: 1970

Population: 0 (but once 50,00)

Best time of year to visit: December-March 

Why you should visit Pripyat: Once a thriving city of 50,000 people, Pripyat was devastated by the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. The explosion at the nuclear power plant unleashed dangerous fires and deadly radiation, killing numerous people and forcing everyone to flee and never return. 

In 2011, the area was deemed safe enough for visitors to see this eerie shell of a city and important historic site firsthand. Guided tours take you through houses still decorated with personal effects, a kindergarten classroom and an abandoned amusement park (complete with a creaky Ferris wheel) that looks like something straight out of a horror movie. 

3. Xinye Village, China

Year established: 1219

Population: 3,900

Best time of year to visit: April-May

Why you should visit Xinye Village: In this remote village, located in the mountains of western Zhejiang, you’ll find ancestral halls, pagodas and other amazing architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties that have been painstakingly protected and preserved by its residents. The off-the-beaten-path location has given villagers a strong sense of pride and clanship, with many families living here generation after generation.

Their lives remain much as they did in the 13th century, with a slower pace and lack of commercialism. It is one of the few communities to still hold the Shangsi Festival, an ancient ceremony in which villagers celebrate their ancestors. 

2. Petra, Jordan

Year established: 300 B.C.

Population: 14,000

Best time of year to visit: April-May; September-November

Why you should visit Petra: With exquisite ruby-red sandstone formations and beautiful architecture, this ancient city is something to behold. 

Constructed by the Nabataeans, Petra is magnificently carved inside a rock and is accessed via a breathtaking gorge named the Siq. 

There are so many eye-popping ruins to admire, but one of the most famous is The Treasury or the Al-Khazneh, a mausoleum and crypt that was built during the first century. Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was voted a “New Seven Wonders of the World” by travelers in 2007. 

1. Pompeii, Italy

Year established: Seventh Century B.C.

Population: 11,000 people before the infamous volcanic eruption

Best time of year to visit: September-November

Why you should visit Pompeii: Time stopped for Pompeii in the year79 B.C. when Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered the town and all of its people with 13 to 20 feet of ash. The lost city was rediscovered in 1599 (and excavations have been ongoing since then), and visiting Visiting Pompeii today is a fascinating (if not slightly morbid) experience. 

You’ll see mummified bodies and view what life was like when tragedy struck, including masterfully carved frescos, graffiti, household items and innovations for the time like indoor plumbing. Note: Like other popular destinations, Pompeii is suffering from the effects of overtourism.